May 18: Limping home

The Mets just left Busch Stadium, limping home after today’s 6-3 loss to the Cardinals with a 3-6 roadtrip to face the Yankees tomorrow night at Shea Stadium.

The Mets lost two of three each at Philadelphia, Milwaukee and St. Louis.

“We have to regroup at home,’’ Mets manager Willie Randolph said. “But, we can’t get wrapped up in the emotions (of the Yankees’ series). We have to play the games.’’

The Mets can’t do anything with the schedule, but getting the Yankees after this trip, and the Phillies on the other end of it, will be emotionally draining.

In addition to losing, the Mets also were hit with the news Brian Bannister aggravated his strained right hamstring and left his rehab assignment after throwing to only two hitters. Bannister, pitching for Class AAA Norfolk against Toledo, felt something in his leg while covering first base.

He threw only five pitches, and will undergo an MRI exam tomorrow in New York.

Jose Lima gave it up today, losing his third straight start, giving up five runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. However, he is likely to remain in the rotation because of Bannister’s injury.

John Delcos enters his third season covering the Mets for The Journal News after eight seasons on the Yankees beat. Prior to coming to New York, John covered the Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Indians.